Horses slipping

056775

056775

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I would really hope that no one has had an accident - but has any one one them selves been leading a horse on snow or ice that has actually gone right down?

Some thing was mentioned to me on the yard and just curious...?

Cheers

Stay safe
 
It is always a risk at this time of year so please everyone be careful - I would be more worried about the horse catching the leader on the way down or up so keep this in mind when leading!
 
I turned my mare out for an hour this morning while I mucked out and the road to the field is like an ice rink now. If tomorrow is the same I think I'll give it a miss.
 
We had a mare come down on the concrete apron of the stables in the winter of 2010 - it was very scary but she was ok thank goodness.

The problem was the owner tried to turn her 90 degrees to go to the field and her back end slipped on the ice and down she went....

The ice is far more dangerous than the snow and I have banned any veichle on ours so that we can still walk the horses across the softer snow to the fields.

Hopefully we will all thaw at the weekend, so not long now.
 
Lots of salt or grit and long ropes are the way to go, and give your horse his head if they slip so that they can sort themselves out...you are also out of range if they do go down.

I throw salt around the entrance to the barn like confetti, but out in the fields the horses have to deal with ice their own way. We have a melt pond that is only about 2' deep but is frozen solid now - I drove the tractor over it this morning. The horses choose to stand on it for whatever reason.

Sidney, I hope you get your thaw, ours will be a long time coming I think - I live in the South where it is relatively warm at -26C right now (10am) this popped up on my news feed this morning, OH is not amused as he is way up North today :(

[Parts of Northern Ontario are under wind chill warnings due to the Arctic air mass and gusts of around 15 km/h, which could bring wind chill values as low as –55 C in the morning, though daytime heating is likely to bring that up closer to a still-blistering –45 C.]
 
Yep Mysti slipped right over mucking about and prancing up the drive and that was when it was just frosty. Have to hold my breath turning her out now until she's in the field because even though she will muck about no doubt it's a soft landing in the snow!
 
Enfys said:
Lots of salt or grit and long ropes are the way to go, and give your horse his head if they slip so that they can sort themselves out...you are also out of range if they do go down.
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^^^Definitely a long rope helps so they can balance themselves and mine can choose where they wish to walk. Smart mare walks on the snow covered grass verge for extra traction, while Fat Boy relies on his short legs, wide girth and dinner plate feet to keep himself upright on the tarmac road.

Had a few of the liveries horses go down on ice at a former large yard and some days it was too bad to get them the few steps from stable to menage as the car park was an ice rink. YO wouldn't grit so was very limiting on the worst days.

Enfys Thats some serious weather you have there. Why on earth do horses stand on frozen water ? Ours used to skate on it like kids as I tried to break it up before they broke a leg, which fortunately,they didn't.
 
horserider said:
Enfys Why on earth do horses stand on frozen water ? Ours used to skate on it like kids as I tried to break it up before they broke a leg, which fortunately,they didn't.
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I have absolutely no idea, can't find the photo with a whole herd on there, but this old boy frequently parks himself on a puddle, perhaps it is a more level footing? Relief from rutted ground especially when there is no/little snow cover?

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One of my freinds horses did this on saturday, she was turning the two out as she got to gate the cheeky one decided to make a dash into the field he got 2 strides before his back feet went from under him and he went flat on his ass! (he has no shoes on) ! her other pony gave him such a dirty look! fortunately he landed in soft snow so didnt hurt himself!:rolleyes::o

Yesterday my neighbour did a really silly thing (in my opinion lol... each to thier own) he has a highly strung 9 year old tb which has been in constantly for 3 weeks no exercise or anything!!! he decided yesterday to stick her in a icy field! obviously she went crazy cos she was out went batting round slipped at flat out gallop fell on to her side and slid down the field!!!!!! she just lay there so i went running round, luckily for him she had just winded herself and preceded to get up and tear round again!!! i suggested MAY be a good idea to get her back in, but he just left her.... i couldnt watch... went round later and she was absolutely fine!!! :eek::eek::(

i mean mine do have a run about sometimes (mine mostly get turned out everyday)but this was just crazy lol! i would have heart attacks if mine did that!!!:rolleyes:
 
Enfys said:
I have absolutely no idea, can't find the photo with a whole herd on there, but this old boy frequently parks himself on a puddle, perhaps it is a more level footing? Relief from rutted ground especially when there is no/little snow cover?

404600_226750660736713_1256218695_n.jpg
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Great photo. Very curious but guess they must know why they do it.
 
If I was a YO I'd be gritting the yard in winter, its not just the horses and people slipping, it would affect vehicles that deliver feed to the yard too?
 
Wiz201 said:
it would affect vehicles that deliver feed to the yard too?
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That's what winter tires are for ;)

I plough the snow off the laneway and the parking area but I certainly don't grit it, only the high traffic areas around the barn doors.

Anything that gets delivered here comes pulled by a socking great John Deere, if that gets stuck then there is no hope :)
 
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